Salt and pepper shaker



Jan. 11, YC, E., NYBERG sALPAND PEPPER SHAKER Filed Oct. 4, 194e Patented Jan. 11,1949

curi n. Nyberg, chicago, ,111., assign@ or ne-half to William Jameson, Miami, Fla.

Application october.4,1946, serial No. 701,364

`This invention relates Yto dispensing apparatus. if?

and pepper and similar material. y

An objectfo the invention is to provide simple and compact apparatus which combines two containers'for different materials in such a manner that onemay b e selectively dispensed while the other is sealed. A further- `object is to provide a structure wherein separate containers for different materials 'are normally held in sealed relation, one ofthe receptacles being movable toward the other to open the latter receptacle'. Yet another object is to provide an extremely compact cylindrical structure which provides for the dis- It is particularly'usefulin the'dispensing `of salt .pensing or material from'either end thereof by applying pressure against'the en'dwhich is not to beopened." Other rspecific objectsand advantages will appear as the'specicati'on proceeds.

Theinvention is illustrated, in a preferred embodimet, by which- Figure 1 .isa perspective View of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, anenlarged longitudinal sectional View, both ends of the structure being sealed; Fig. 3, a View similarto Fig. 2 but showing one end of the structure open; and Fig. 4, a transverse sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line lI-d of Fig. 3.

In the illustration given, I0 indicates a cylinder ,which may be of any desired cross sectional contour. In the illustration given, a circular casing IB is employed and the casing is shown in two parts, The parts aresecured together by a friction ring II received within recesses I2 in the two parts constituting thecasing or cylinder IB. The parts constituting the member lo' may be formed of plastic, metal, or any other suitable material, and the retaining ring I I may be formed of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. If desired, the ring I I may be externally threaded to engage threads on the parts forming cylinder I (i, or, if desired, the members may be simply held together by a friction fit.

The cylinder lil is ,preferably cut away to provide grooves I3 having an outer stop I4.

Within the cylinder I0 are mounted a pair of containers I5 and I6. Each of the containers is provided with a pair of laterally-extending lugs or keys I'I which are adapted to engage the stops I4 to @prevent further outward movement of the receptacles I5 and I6.

On their inner sides, each of the containers I5 and I5 is provided with a closure I8 perforated centrally to receive a rod I9.

Each end of the rod I9 receives a closure memthe accompanying drawing, in

7 Claims. (Cl. 65-45) 2 .ber 20 formed of any suitable material and preferably having inwardly-tapered sides 2l. I iind that excellent results are obtained when the members 20 are formed of resilient material, such as rubber. Such members provide a soft cushion for operating the device while at the Sametime, because of their resilient body, the members 2t may be readily drawn ofi the end of shaft or rod Iii, thus exposing the interior of the container' for the lling thereof.

Each of the containers I5 and Iii is provided at its outer end with an opening 22 adapted to be closed by the members 2li.

A compressionv spring 23 is housed Within the ring II and hasits end portions bearing against the bottcnfp closures i8 of the containers I5 and Operation In the operation of the device, the spring 23 normally urges the containers l5 and iii toward their outer position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the keys I'I bearing against the outer stops Iii. In this position, the closures 2B are held bythe rod Y, I9 tightly in engagement with the containers I5 andA I5. When it is desired to dispense material from the container Iii, the closure Ztl of the oppositecontainer may be pressed inwardly, as illustrated inFig. 3. This causes the container iii to move to the position shown in Fig. 3 and at the same time the rod i9 slidably guided within the members I8 of the two containers advances the closure 2B of container I6 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, thusproviding an annular dispensing opening about the inclined walls 2E thereof.. After the desired amount of material has thus vbeen dispensed,` the closure te may be released and the spring 23, which was compressed by the movement just described, moves container I5 back to the position shown in Fig. 2. This movement restores the closure 20 of container I6 to the sealed position illustrated in Fig. 2.

In a similar manner, the closure 2i! of con.- tainer I6 may be pressed inwardly to open the closure 2li of container I5 after the dispensing of material from the latter container. It will be noted that in each of the dispensing operations, as described, the ring II provides a stop for the inward movement of each container and thus regulates the size of the dispensing opening.

For the lling of the containers I5 or I 6, it is merely necessary to withdraw one of the resilient closures 20 and to pour the salt, pepper, or other material into the container, replacing the closure 20 after such filling. It will be understood that instead of employing a resilient closure 20, the shaft i9 may he threaded to receive a diierent type of closure having internal threads.

A divided cylinder i is found to be highly satisfactory for assembly operations. The parts when formed or" plastic or other material are rst fitted with the containers l and I'B and then brought together over a friction t ring Il which maintains the 'members together, either as afpermanent union or for separation when the containers are to be removed for cleaning or repair.

The dispenser is unusually Well adapted for receiving pepper and salt and, because `fits col'nzpact elongated contour, it is well adapted for being placed alongside the fork, knifeandspoon of each person at a dinner table. Its compact character also makes it well adapted 'for use in a picnic basket, lunch pail, etc.

While in the foregoing specification, VI 'have set forth certain details for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that-such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the'spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing device, a cylinder, a -paii` of containers mounted therein. in spaced and slidable relation and having their `outer ends each provided with an opening, a closure member in each of said openings, and a rod slidably mounted in said containers and connecting said closures whereby movement of said rod to advance 'either of said containers toward the other vopens the closure in the latter container.

2. in a dispensing device, a cylinder, a pair or' containers slidably mounted therein Yin. spaced relation and having their outer ends-each provided With an opening, a closure member in each of said openings, a rod slidably mounted in said containers and connecting said closures, and a spring between said containers and normally urging said containers apart to maintain said vclosures in sealing relation to saidop'eni'ng's. I

3. In a dispensing device, a cylinder, 'a pairfo containers slidably mounted therein in spac'fed lrelation and having their outer ends eachprovided with an opening, means within said cylinder limiting the sliding movement 'of said containers in either direction, a spring between .sai-deontainers and urging the same outwardly, a'iclosure member in each of said openings, and a rod slidably mounted in said containers andconnecting said closures. s

4. In a dispensing device, a cylinder, a 'pair of containers slidably mounted therein in spaced relation and having their outer ends 'eachpro- 5 vided with an opening, means within said 'cylinder -mounted therein in spaced slidable relation, each o'f said containers having its outer end provided fwit-h 'an opening, said cylinder being provided witha key wayand each of said containers having a key .received within said key way, a spring between said containers normally urging them outwardly, 'andra lr'od slidably mounted in said containers and connecting said closures.

6. In a, dispensing device, a cylinder, a pair of containers mounted therein in spaced and slidable relation having their outer endseach 'provided with an opening and havingjin the v"nottom'of each a perforation, a Vclosure Ifor Athe opening l-cf each of said containers, a rod connectingfsaid closures and extending throughtheperforations in the bottoms of said containers, 'andl anfsp'ring pressing against said bottoms and normally urging said` containers apart.

7. In a dispensing device, Aafc'yli'rrder formed in two parts and having the Vparts joined -icyv a'ring engaging the same, a compression springilroused within said ring, a pair vof containers: 'nounted Withinsaid cylinder and having their outer 4ends each provided with an opening, vafclosure for each of said openings, and a. connecting rod loiil'lnlg said closures operative to seal the openings in said containers when said containers Iare urgedoutwardly by said spring. Y u I, A

CURT 'NY'BERG- REFERENCES CITED lThe following references are-"of `reccrl'l in the l'e of this patent:

UNITED .STATES Pfifrlnn'r's Number Name .Date

1,265,607 canine Mawr .12118 1,366,929 Basnik .'Fleb. v1, "1921 1,491,529 I raeseier Api.2 2, 1924 1,588,552 Sprinkle Jlle Yl5, 192,6 1,898,152 Taft etal Feb. 21,1933

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 166,725 Great Britain Julyl26, 1921 

